In the middle of the Nevada desert, a renewable energy revolution is changing how we fuel the world’s most demanding industrial processes. Google’s ambitious goal is to operate on 24/7 carbon-free energy by 2030, using one of the most promising yet underappreciated renewable energy sources: geothermal energy.

A new geothermal plant in the Nevada desert provides Google with the energy to power its data centers – the future of energy.

Nevada’s geothermal potential: An untapped resource under our feet

The geographical locations make Nevada among the most suitable areas for geothermal power generation. Known for its “Basin and Range” province, the state has the perfect recipe for geothermal energy: temperature, porosity, and fluids. The state’s crust is less than average thickness, providing an ideal opportunity for heat to rise from the Earth’s mantle.

For instance, the Hot Springs Mountains area has geothermal systems, and Brady’s Geothermal Project has produced electricity for many years. This geothermal activity is an excellent opportunity to harness a continuous energy source, unlike wind or solar, which are unpredictable.

Fervo Energy’s game-changing geothermal technology is transforming the industry

One of the active companies in Nevada’s geothermal industry, Fervo Energy, is exploring the potential of this renewable source to the fullest. Fervo employs methods from the oil and gas sector to fracture and harness heat beneath the earth’s crust.

This EGS technology can enable energy production in locations without naturally available geothermal hotspots. Their plant in Nevada is online, providing power to the grid that supplies Google’s data center. With this next-gen geothermal technology, Fervo and its partners aim to ramp up to deliver geothermal as a material contributor to the country’s energy mix.

The move to clean energy is not only an environmental concern for companies such as Google; it is a necessity for the business. As it aims to make its data centers and offices 100 percent reliant on renewable energy, Google is putting a lot of resources into geothermal energy.

The company seeks round-the-clock carbon-free energy, and completing a pilot project in Nevada brings the company closer to this goal. Geothermal energy is highly reliable and cheaper than most, making it ideal for use in establishments that require a constant energy supply, such as data centers. It will become a valuable tool for companies and utilities seeking to reduce carbon emission targets significantly.

Geothermal energy’s growing role in the U.S. and prospects

Though geothermal energy is a marginal energy source in the United States, the opportunity is enormous. Industry insiders believe that by the next few decades, the EGS could supply as much as 20 percent of the country’s energy needs.

With places like California planning to expand its geothermal power generation capacity, the Nevada geothermal outlook is ready to play an essential part in this process. As more companies and utilities like Google turn to geothermal as a reliable and scalable energy source, the U.S. is inching closer to a more diversifying and cleaner energy sector.

However, with future advancements and increased capital commitment, geothermal could shortly become the leading sector in the shift away from conventional electricity generation.

From the middle of the Nevada desert, where the heat is hot with the sun, and the land is rocky, a new revolution in energy is being experienced. Fervo Energy and other organizations are now contributing to developing enhanced geothermal systems to realize the unseen opportunities hidden beneath the ground level.

Leveraging this energy source is why tech firms like Google work tirelessly to ensure a carbon-free world. The future of energy may very well be found under the desert, where the Earth’s heat can power the digital age sustainably and reliably.